Showing results by author "Orrin Russell" in All Categories

Taking a hard look at his position in life, Balum can't say he's pleased. Near flat-broke and aimless, he bites at the chance of a lifetime: a roundup of 1,000 wild Texas longhorns. It won't be easy. He might die in a stampede or get hooked by a horn, the cattle might die on the drive or fetch a collapsed price at market. And the biggest obstacle of all: rustlers. There existed two types of rustlers in the Old West; those who stole a few head in the dark of night, and those who appropriated an entire herd for everybody to see.

One last job. But Balum didn't want it. He was done being a US Deputy Marshal; done with the stress, the responsibility, and tired of getting shot at. All he wanted was to spend his money on gambling, whiskey, and women. He most certainly has no desire to grant Cafferty's final request. Babysitting a bunch of Eastern dandies across the plains to Oregon held no allure whatsoever. But when Balum finds out who is leading the expedition, and the fate of its members, he reconsiders. At least that's the reason he tells himself. It doesn't hurt that amongst the settlers are two of the most ...

When Balum stumbles across a pouch containing two pounds of gold in Hell Country, he figures his worries are over. He'll head to the nearest town and live lavishly, with unlimited whisky and women. But no sooner does he arrive in town than the trouble starts. A crooked sheriff and his thieving daughter allow no chance for peace, and a trigger happy deputy has Balum on edge. They suspect Balum has possession of their stolen gold. They're determined to get that gold back, and to see him hung before his story gets out.